Feedback on False Positives from Drug Testing, page 24

False Positives Forum

This forum is intended to help those who Do NOT Abuse Drugs. We do NOT support the illegal use of any substance. If you have experience with false positives, share your experience. What would you tell someone about drug testing and false positives? Please remember that we do not give medical or legal advice.

Subj: Fail some tests while passing othersDate: 10/31/2007I tested positive on a urine screen last year for cocaine. I just went to the same place today and failed yet again for cocaine and opiates. The only meds I am taking is lortab, robaxin, and QDall for allergies. Is there something in one of these causing me to fail some tests while passing others???

Kristina

AskDocWeb: Lortab is an opioid analgesic.

Subj: HydrocodoneDate: 11/1/2007I had to take a drug test and it came back positive for meth. I take hydrocodone for pain for my gallstones. Can that cause a false positive for meth?

D

AskDocWeb: Hydrocodone contains synthetic opiates.

Subj: Advil or Aleve?Date: 11/1/2007Can Advil or Aleve cause a false positive and if so what are my rights in order to retest.

Tyron

AskDocWeb: Both have been reported to show up as false positive in urine testing. Your rights vary depending on where you live and you would have to talk to a lawyer about that but you may want to change your focus. Rather than trying to prove your innocence with a retest, which might come up with another false positive, make them prove your guilt with a GC/MS confirmation test. If they refuse to do that, you may have grounds for a lawsuit.

Subj: Seroquel, trazadon, and zoloftDate: 11/2/2007I recently had a drug screen and it showed I tested positive for benzos. I take seroquel, trazadon, and zoloft. Can any of these cause a false positive. Thanks.

Subj: UA THC?Date: 11/2/2007
I was told that if you sleep with someone that smokes THC then if you do a UA you will be positive. Is this true?

Sheridool

AskDocWeb: No.

Subj: Can weight loss cause false positive?Date: 11/2/2007Can weight loss of thirty pounds or more cause a false positive for thc he has not use canabis for over 60 days

jim

AskDocWeb: No but some drugs to lose weight can do that.

Subj: Positive for PCPDate: 11/2/2007I need to know if Lamictal or Benedry can cause a false positive for PCP. My daughter does NO drugs and this came back positive. She has also used Advil cold and sinus.

Molly

AskDocWeb: (answer revised 6/30/2011) Yes, Lamictal has been reported to cause a false positive for PCP.

Subj: Tested positive for morphineDate: 11/5/2007My 17 year old tested positive for morphine, with a reading of 2015 on a GC/MS test. She took an adult dose of Robitussin two days before for a cold with cough – could this have produced this result?

Marion

AskDocWeb: Robitussin DM has been reported to cause a false positive for Morphine.

Subj: Sugar-Free Red Bull?Date: 11/5/2007Can drinking Sugar-Free Red Bull make a drug test positive for anything. Someone said it does and I drink a lot of it.

Subj: Failed the drug testDate: 11/6/2007My son went to the doctor and was put on Amoxicillin 875 Disp 14 Sig T’ PO BID x 7 days and also was on some other kind of ear drops as well. He was on this stuff and was given a random drug test. They said he failed the drug test and he had cocaine in his system or so it looked like. He has passed every drug test for the last year and I know for a fact he is not doing this stuff but how can you convince his employer. I went to the doctor’s office and they said that the amoxicillin can come back as a false positive. I have a copy of his script as well showing the medicine he was on. He used this the day before the drug test and the day of the drug test. Also a few weeks before it as well. Can a lab test be wrong? Can the drug test on the job site be wrong? Or will the laboratory show that it was wrong or I guess my question is can they be wrong in a more sophisticated lab as well? Because they are wrong for sure but it seems like they are just trying to get rid of this kid on this job site now. What do you think? Thanks so much for any help you may give us.

Sam

AskDocWeb: They may have used one of the cheap urine tests and those are known to produce an occasional false positive. Any positive result should be proven with a GC/MS confirmation test.

Subj: Positive for alcoholDate: 11/7/2007Hello. I hope someone can help me. I am 34 and stopped drinking alcohol on July 11, 2007. I am enrolled in an intensive outpatient program where the give me urine screens and swabs 2x weekly. On October 8, 2007 I received a positive for alcohol. I can’t understand how that is possible since I have not drank any alcoholic beverages since July. Can you pleas give me some insight on what else may cause this urine screen to come up positive? Thank you very much for all your help. Sincerely,

Nancy

AskDocWeb: Sorry Nancy, we have no idea.

Subj: Positive for marijuanaDate: 11/7/2007My son has started mesotherapy for weight loss. He has to take U.A.’s for his job. His last one came back positive for marijuana. He use to smoke but hasn’t for a few months. Is it possible for the ingredients in the shots they use to cause a false positive?

Pat

AskDocWeb: Since Mesotherapy involves injecting microscopic quantities of a verity of substances into the skin you would have to find out what specifically was injected and check the list. It could be natural extracts, homeopathic agents, pharmaceuticals or even vitamins.

Subj: DilantinDate: 11/7/2007My husband had to get drug tested on probation, he takes Dilantin for seizures and test came out positive for marijuana and barbiturates. He doesn’t smoke marijuana or even drink. Is this possible?

Kelli

AskDocWeb: Yes, Dilantin has been reported to cause false positives for barbiturates.

Subj: Tested positive for methDate: 11/8/2007Well I tested positive for meth and I don’t even know what it looks like and I swear I’ve never used that stuff in my life.

Nicholas

Subj: I did have cocaine in my systemDate: 11/8/2007Because I got a D.U.I. last year, I am in a program called D.U.I./Drug Court in New Mexico. Part of the program entails random drug testing. I tested positive for cocaine twice. I sent them to be confirmed at a lab, and I did have cocaine in my system under the standard level for testing (I think its 300?). Each time my now ex-boyfriend had done a substantial amount, and I had not. We lived together and had sexual relations at this time. Because we are given jail sentences ranging from 3 days to over 30 days, many people are claiming innocence from doing the drug. I don’t know what happened in the case of others, but I do know I did not do cocaine. My Probation Officer wants me to prepare a research paper in order to find out if this is really possible, and while I know it is, I don’t know how to get credible research to back up my claim. Unfortunately the therapists and POs are so convinced the only way to have drugs in our systems is if we do it. They had convinced me too which is why I did not take the precautions I should have with my ex-boyfriend. Is there any information you can give me that will prevent others and educate others so they do not have to spend needless time in jail? Thank you.

Lisa

AskDocWeb: The most authoritative source you can get would be a toxicologist but if one is not available, we hope you find these reference notes helpful. And good luck.

Subj: What can I do?Date: 11/8/2007I took a swab test for probation and it came up positive for cocaine. I was not violated for it and if I was guilty of doing cocaine I would of been lucky. My problem is I didn’t do any drugs and there is no reason I should of failed. So now when I report to probation I have to be ready to go to prison for absolutely no reason. This is the worst nightmare of someone trying to do good. What can I do?

Hunter

AskDocWeb: You can review the list of products that might cause a problem and avoid them. If that doesn’t work then insist that the results be verified by GC/MS.

For Women

Hair Loss Products

Most of materials presented are a layman's report and is not intended to replace discussions with a health care provider. Do not use this information as a substitute for your doctor's advice. Always consult your doctor before taking any drug and follow your doctor's directions. Source material: Food and Drug Administration, Medline, Physician's Desk Reference, and the largest community of people in the world, those who are concerned about side effects and healthcare.